By Kyle Roberts
Following a 17-win season and a No. 18 ranking in the power ratings, Ruston High School softball will return to postseason play for the first time since the 2021 season — and in just the second under head coach Lauren Garvie.
The Lady Bearcats will be traveling to Chalmette, La., to take on the No. 15 Owls for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch start.
“Based off a little bit that I’ve seen I think their shortstop is going to be key for us,” Garvie said. “They’ve got one girl who is a real threat at the plate but then again the same could be said about (senior) Cala Wilson for us.
“I have not see a whole lot of line drives; it’s been more ground balls, so I’m looking for us to hit some gaps and take advantage of the ground balls. We worked on seeing the ball small and being intentional in the infield today and I’m hoping that shows up tomorrow.”
Chalmette finished with a 15-9 overall record in district 8-5A and lost three of their last four regular season games.
For Garvie, a big part of tonight is giving the kids a great experience on the way down — and not lost on her is that Ruston’s prom will be Saturday, the day after their playoff game.
“We’re going to take a charter bus down,” Garvie said. “The kids are so, so excited. Not all of them have had the experience of being on a big bus with Ruston athletics. And then they’ll get their nails done, get in their dresses, and go to prom the next night. It’s a testament to what it means to be a female student athlete; you have all of these things that can distract you.
“But they’re excited and they’re ready to play.”
The winner will go on to play No. 2 Southside.
